The Future of Schools and Teacher Education

Eduardo Andere has immersed himself in Finnish education and become deeply knowledgeable about this nation that has captured the attention of educators around the world. Andere helps us understand the inner life of a national school system that refuses to follow the path of standards-testing-accountability and markets that has taken hold in other nations, especially the U.S., the U.K., and Australia. Finland has put the well-being and creativity of children first. Andere's book is invaluable in helping readers learn how Finnish educators think about their work and what we can learn from recent changes in the Finnish curriculum. -- Diane Ravitch, Research Professor of Education, New York University This is a great book! Educators and education policy-makers from around the world have been fascinated by Finland, inspired by its stellar results in PISA and intrigued because its model contradicts conventional wisdom about educational success. The Future of Schools and Teacher Education: How Far Ahead is Finland? provides the inside story of the Finnish model, written by someone who has actually been there, and who has accompanied students, educators and administrators with the sharp eye of a researcher in their efforts and struggles to build a better future for Finland. -- Andreas Schleicher, Director for the Directorate of Education and Skills, OECD At the end, everything in the education system that is important happens where learning happens. In this book, you find a holistic walkthrough of the Finnish system including teachers' values, pedagogical solutions, and management culture and implementation challenges. It is not about structures, but day-to-day reality. I would have guessed the author is a native Finn! A valuable book to read for us Finns too! -- Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General of the Finnish National Agency for Education and Former Minister of Education (1994-99) This book is about education and learning in my home country. Based on what experts in education say, and the skyrocketing number of visitors to Finnish school in the last 15 years, Finland has become a global phenomenon in education. Dr. Andere has published three books about Finnish education. I know of no other foreign national who has written so much and with so deep understanding of Finnish culture and education. This latest book is about the future of education seen from the Finnish perspective. I strongly recommend it for a fresh, updated, and fascinating reading about education and learning in today's Finland. -- Anne Lammila, Consul General of Finland in Saint Petersburg and Former Ambassador of Finland to Mexico (2011-15)